Garmin InReach Mini Review

In this video I review the Garmin InReach Mini that I have owned and used weekly since September 2018.
THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
Garmin overview video: • Garmin InReach Mini Ov...
Purchase the Garmin Mini via Amazon: amzn.to/34UrRuL
Purchase the Garmin Mini2 via REI:
MUSIC:
Intro music- 'Memories' by Sappheiros
/ @sappheiros
FILMED WITH:
Canon Powershot G7x Mark II amzn.to/2URM12Q
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[@skipandcherieadventures116]

I swear by Garmin......I had an emergency on the Colorado Trail this summer in Segment 2 in horrendous conditions....temps over 100, a ten mile water carry a must as there was no water in at least that distance, uphill segment going thru a burn area so no shade. Even though we started hiking at 6:00am with plenty of water, I suffered severe heat exhaustion.....pushed the sos button and was rescued. We completed 1 more segment and decided to come home and not continue our hike. Upon arrival at home I had leg issues and went to the doctor....I had a massive blood clot and many, many smaller ones and am now on blood thinners daily.....you never know when you will need it.

[@HikeOregon]

Wow thank god for the Garmin. They are indeed a lifesaver.

[@donzones1367]

Great video! I’ve had mine for almost 2 years also and it has it worked perfect. It works great for all the reasons you listed and my family loves being able to see where I’m at on my hikes.

[@HikeOregon]

Yes! It's such an awesome piece of gear!

[@urbanbanjogurl]

I love mine! I take it everywhere!

[@JimRodgers]

Great update on your experiences using this device. I've owned the DeLorme inReach SE for five years now and my experience has been similar to yours. I had mixed feelings when Garmin merged with (purchased) DeLorme, but so far the customer service has been great. I highly recommend one of the inReach devices for people that spend a lot of time off grid.

[@HikeOregon]

Thanks so much for watching Jim!! These devices hold up great, it’s good to know that 5 years later yours is still going strong.

[@fastlane62]

Great review and video! I've had my inReach Mini for about a month now. Purchased it for a section hike on the Colorado Trail that we did in August. Worked great on that trip. 3.5 days in segment 24, messages sent quickly (no SOS needed). Used it again this past weekend and sent one message from the trailhead to let family know where we were starting from. The device (and app) said the message was sent, but it did not deliver for 48 hours. By then we had been home for 18+ hours.

[@HikeOregon]

That’s really odd that it took that long to send messages.

[@mikeyhikes]

Thanks so much... will check out the other video.

[@HikeOregon]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@Mtnsunshine]

Thank you for this video. Very helpful.👍. I also wanted to say that I hope you are doing OK in the awful fires tragically affecting your beautiful state. I’ve lived through a couple of close fires here in Colorado, so I know how scary it can be. Prayers for rain 🌧 🌧 to move in soon. Take care.

[@HikeOregon]

Yea it has ruined not only my business but soooo many homes and businesses here. It’s truly a tragedy that could have been avoided.

[@markbenedict3279]

Just got back from the Steens Mt. (Little Blitzen trail) and yes you are right the Inreach is great had to wait for a while deep in the canyon for messages but works great and I now will never be on a trail without the Inreach mini

[@HikeOregon]

Nice!!!

[@Jsadventuring]

Awesome review ☺️

[@HikeOregon]

Thank you so much!!

[@pnwadventuresandgearreview8749]

wanting to get one of these it is definitely not a fun purchase but is a safety one for sure🤙🏻

[@99Stutz]

Just how I felt! Wait for them to be on sale at REI

[@rickguthrie7662]

Thanks for the review. I own a Garmin Mini. Maybe you could do a how to for the Earthmate app. Using the Earthmate app is where I struggle with things like adding a map location, messaging ( seems to take a long time from my phone), tracking, etc. The other reviews for Earthmate need to be very basic, step by step with lots of detail.

[@HikeOregon]

Sure, I can definitely do that. I’m adding it to the list now. That’ll be a great video to do in the winter time when I can’t film anything outside.

[@Ew221]

Not my best hiking purchase, but definitely my smartest one.

[@HikeOregon]

Yep. It’s an expensive piece of gear that’s not the funnest but it’s so important.

[@Jonistired]

Thank you for a good review. If money was not an issue I would buy the Garmin device Here’s the thing, almost all of my hiking is fairly short, four to ten mile day hikes, on popular trails. I insist on hiking in foul weather but most of the time I run into people often enough. I think the only thing I really need is something that can send an SOS signal. That’s only because I’m pretty old, 67, with some medical issues. I really wish there more reviews of devices like the Zoleo and the Bivvy Stick. The Zoleo is much less expensive and uses the same network as the Garmin. Service plans are cheaper too. I just wish I could find someone who has used one extensively.

[@HikeOregon]

My guess why there aren't a ton of reviews on the devices that are only SOS beacons is that most people own them for years and never have to press SOS. Or I guess if the device didn't work then maybe they're not alive to review the product. lol yikes!

[@Jonistired]

Hike Oregon zoleo supposedly has excellent messaging but it doesn’t track you or have maps.

[@bertman4]

Check out Backcountry Exposure. Devin has reviewed both of those devices.

[@Jonistired]

That was a really helpful review. Thanks!

[@jessyskehan1696]

I haven’t seen your first video, and I’m just starting to look into this...Hopefully this isn’t a stupid question. LOL Does it have trail maps such as All Trails to follow?

[@HikeOregon]

The small one doesn’t have maps. The bigger Garmin SE or Garmin Explorer they have Garmin Maps predownloaded on the device. They are also more expense and much bigger and heavier. I give more details in the other video.

[@jessyskehan1696]

Hike Oregon Thank you for your prompt response!

[@hike2024]

Hello, I really enjoyed your 2y review of this device. I just purchased this and it is supposed to ship out to me next week. One question: Have you ever had any issues with the performance in inclement weather or general overcast conditions, etc.? Thank you.

[@HikeOregon]

Nope, not had any issues with that at all.

[@hike2024]

@@HikeOregon Awesome, I'm looking forward to getting this device and using it on my hiking trips. Thank you for your quick response.

[@hike2024]

Hello again, I’m wondering how you do updates to this device. Garmin express does not recognize it, and I can’t seem to any other info on it. So I’m just asking around to see what other owners have done. Thank you.

[@HikeOregon]

I'm not sure what you mean by updates. Like hardware updates on the device??

[@hike2024]

​@@HikeOregon Hello, I really appreciate your quick response. I figured it out a few minutes ago. There was a setting in the Mac computer, which preventing the Garmin Express app from finding my Inreach device. Once I changed the setting I was able to connect and do my updates. There was a firmware updated needed on my new device. Since I'm new to this, I thought perhaps there was some other way of doing the updates. Again, thanks for the review on this, it has helped me tremendiously.

[@TurreTuntematon]

So the difference to having something like this vs a Fenix is the SMS feature? Can you send an SMS with a Fenix?

[@HikeOregon]

The Fenix watch is very different than this piece of gear. The watch has a ton of different features that the InReach Mini doesn’t have. You can do messages with the fenix but only if you have an Android phone and it’s through the Garmin Connect all which is different than Earthmate which is what you use for the InReach. You can’t send SOS via the watch only through the InReach. If you want to be safe I would have the sports watch and the InReach with you when hiking and backpacking.

[@TurreTuntematon]

Hike Oregon Ok thanks. So sending the SMS over GPS and SOS from anywhwere is the main difference. Thanks I will consider the inReach! 😊

[@bryanhikes]

What 3 free messages do you have programmed in your inreach?

[@HikeOregon]

“I arrived at the trailhead and am starting my hike now” “I’m a bit slower than expected but I’m fine” “Finished the Hike, heading home now”

[@bryanhikes]

@@HikeOregon Thanks for the info. You have a great channel and a very positive message. You make the world a better place. Now let's go hiking!

[@HikeOregon]

Aw thank you so much Bryan for the sweet words. ❤️

[@jonuran9750]

❤️😍

[@proudlyindian001]

ALL MINE 😍😙😙😙GREAT AFFORT 👍

[@MilesBe]

I think they have that at Costco right now.

[@HikeOregon]

Yes Costco frequently has Garmin deals going on. A great place to purchase one👍🏼

[@azclaimjumper]

HOw much will it cost you to pay Garmin to replace the non-user-replaceable battery?

[@HikeOregon]

I don’t think they replace batteries. I think you just have to buy a new device.

[@timothydurkan]

15 minutes? At Hart's Pass in Washington it was taking up to 40 minutes to send.

[@HikeOregon]

Damn!!! That’s way too long. 15 minutes is already long if there is an emergency. Unless you’re in a canyon or a cave it shouldn’t take that long to send.

[@timothydurkan]

@@HikeOregon some guy "in the know" said there's only one satellite for garmin's in reach series. If you miss the window, you have to wait for it to come back around. Idk... I'm not a scientist.

[@HikeOregon]

That doesn’t make sense. Like I said in the video, I usually don’t have any problems sending and generally it takes just seconds to send a text. If there was only one satellite and everyone was having problems taking 40 minutes to send one text message no one would buy Garmin devices.

[@timothydurkan]

@@HikeOregon I'll be in Campo headed north in march and a ton of oregon hiking in august. I'll keep you appraised of my continued experience then.🤪🤪🤪 Great channel, great content!

[@HikeOregon]

@@timothydurkan If you need any trail magic when you come through Oregon via PCT let me know. Instagram DM works best as far as quick communication.

[@jaredwhite489]

If I were to flip my car.....lol

[@HikeOregon]

It’s definitely something to think about. I hike in a lot of remote places with windy gravel roads etc. it could easily happen.